Ban liquor, other intoxicating drinks in Delhi: BJP to CM Kejriwal

On 19 June, Delhi BJP spokesperson Ashwini Upadhyay wrote to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, expressing the need for imposing a ban on alcohol and other intoxicating drinks in the national capital.

"I request you to take appropriate action to ban liquor and other intoxicating drinks and drugs completely in National Capital Territory of Delhi in spirit of Article 47 of the Constitution of India and make a liquor-free Delhi," Upadhyay has said in his letter.

Prohibition is connected with public health and to enforce the ban effectively, a wider definition would have to be given to the word 'liquor' in order to include all alcoholic liquids which may be used as substitutes for intoxicating drinks, he said.

He contended that it is the duty of the state to do so as per the Constitution.

According to various studies, liquor consumption results in many physical and mental disorders like blackouts, memory loss, anxiety and permanent brain damage, he said.

"Alcoholism affects behavior and ability to learn and remember. Drinking alcohol is the second biggest risk factor for mouth, throat and liver cancer. Alcohol causes hypertension, which increases the risk of heart attack," he said.